All Blog Posts Tagged 'upgrade' - Home Energy Pros2015-03-03T20:36:27Zhttp://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/profiles/blog/feed?tag=upgrade&xn_auth=noNew $1.6 Million Program Helps Electric-Heated Buildings in Chicago Save Energy, Moneytag:homeenergypros.lbl.gov,2015-01-15:6069565:BlogPost:1735702015-01-15T15:51:37.000ZMelissa Ulbrichthttp://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/profile/MelissaUlbricht
<p><a href="http://www.elevateenergy.org/prod/httpdocs/wp/wp-content/uploads/ElectricMeter-BlogPost2.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="align-left" src="http://www.elevateenergy.org/prod/httpdocs/wp/wp-content/uploads/ElectricMeter-BlogPost2-300x222.jpg?width=300" width="300"></img></a> Many Chicago apartment buildings are electrically heated – meaning that the primary heat source is delivered via electricity, rather than natural gas or other sources. A …</p>
<p><a href="http://www.elevateenergy.org/prod/httpdocs/wp/wp-content/uploads/ElectricMeter-BlogPost2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.elevateenergy.org/prod/httpdocs/wp/wp-content/uploads/ElectricMeter-BlogPost2-300x222.jpg?width=300" width="300" class="align-left"/></a>Many Chicago apartment buildings are electrically heated – meaning that the primary heat source is delivered via electricity, rather than natural gas or other sources. A <a title="Electric-Heat Apartment Building" href="http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/mayor/press_room/press_releases/2014/dec/mayor-emanuel-announces-50th-building-to-join-retrofit-chicagos-.html" target="_blank">$1.6 million joint initiative</a> from the City of Chicago and Elevate Energy will improve the energy efficiency of 2,500 electric-heated units across the city, saving owners and tenants money on utility bills and contributing to cozier, healthier, higher-performing buildings.</p>
<p>For owners and managers of electric-heated buildings, here’s everything you need to know to take advantage of this easy, practical, full-service program and improve your building today.</p>
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<li><h2>First, how will my building and tenants benefit from energy efficiency improvements?</h2>
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<p>Improving the energy efficiency of your electric-heated building will help you and your tenants save money on electric and utility bills, now and in the future. Buildings that implement recommended energy efficiency measures can save 30 percent on utility and maintenance costs.</p>
<p>In addition, you’ll improve home comfort for your tenants, increase tenant retention, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Implementing more in-depth energy efficiency improvements such as air sealing and insulation also helps create jobs and boosts our local economy. And, with Chicago winter now fully upon us, <strong>now is the time</strong> to invest in measures for warmer, cozier, and more energy efficient homes and buildings.</p>
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<li><h2>I hear there’s a free energy assessment. What will I learn from this and what improvements are typically recommended?</h2>
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<p>All eligible buildings that apply will receive a<strong> free</strong> energy assessment and direct installation of energy efficient products for tenants, including a programmable thermostat and power strips to help minimize wasted energy.</p>
<p>While there is no commitment to implement more in-depth upgrades, the free energy assessment report includes expert recommendations on the most cost-effective improvements for your specific building, including potential air sealing and insulation and HVAC system upgrades. The report will outline projected costs, financial and energy savings, and payback time for each recommended improvement. Considerable financial incentives are available for building owners that opt in to these more in-depth measures. In other words, we’ll connect you to financial resources (incentives, rebates, grants, and low-interest loans) to help offset the cost of the improvements, setting you on the path to savings for years to come.</p>
<p>We’ll also connect you to trusted, carefully vetted, local contractors to complete the work and we’ll oversee the entire process. Our proven, expert guidance helps you every step of the way to ensure maximum savings and impact.</p>
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<li><h2>Is my building eligible?</h2>
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<p>Owners or managers of all-electric residential apartment buildings in Chicago are eligible to participate in the program, regardless of who pays the utility bills (either owner or tenant-paid).</p>
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<li><h2>I’m in! How do I get involved?</h2>
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<p>Eligible building owners or managers should <a href="http://www.elevateenergy.org/for-building-owners-managers/multifamily-buildings/" target="_blank">complete a short application on Elevate Energy’s website</a>. You can also get more details by contacting our friendly experts at 855.372.8377 or <a href="mailto:buildings@elevateenergy.org" target="_blank">buildings@elevateenergy.org</a>.</p>
<h2>Don’t miss out! Be among the 2,500 apartment units to implement comprehensive upgrades and access financial incentives.</h2>
<p>The goal of the $1.6 million joint initiative is to implement comprehensive energy efficiency upgrades in 2,500 electric-heated apartment units in Chicago and to distribute efficiency products to an additional 7,500 households across the city, by the end of May 2017. Act now to take advantage of the considerable incentive funds available to help you save money and energy.</p>
<p>For more on the benefits of energy efficiency in Chicago, see our <a href="http://www.elevateenergy.org/building-owners-tenants-alike-benefit-energy-efficiency/" target="_blank">blog post and this Chicago Tribune story.</a></p>
<h2>Not an electric-heated building? We can help.</h2>
<p>As always, Elevate Energy and our partners continue to offer energy and water efficiency services to apartment buildings (two units or more), nonprofits, and childcare centers throughout Illinois, regardless of the heating system. <a href="http://www.elevateenergy.org/for-building-owners-managers/energy-efficient-building-services/" target="_blank">Apply today on our website</a>, or get in touch with us directly at <a href="mailto:buildings@ElevateEnergy.org" target="_blank">buildings@ElevateEnergy.org</a> or 855.372.8377.</p>
<p>The <a href="http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/progs/env/retrofit_chicagoresidentialsinglefamily.html" target="_blank">Retrofit Chicago Residential Partnership</a> brings together municipal, nonprofit, and utility partners, including the <a href="http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/progs/env/retrofit_chicago.html" target="_blank">City of Chicago</a>, <a href="http://www.elevateenergy.org" target="_blank">Elevate Energy</a>, the <a href="http://www.cicchicago.com/" target="_blank">Community Investment Corporation</a>, the <a href="http://www.cmap.illinois.gov/" target="_blank">Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning</a>, the <a href="http://www.chicagobungalow.org/" target="_blank">Historic Chicago Bungalow Association</a>, <a href="https://www.comed.com/Pages/default.aspx" target="_blank">ComEd</a>, and <a href="http://www.peoplesgasdelivery.com/" target="_blank">Peoples Gas</a>.</p>
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<p> </p>Cashing in on Local Energy Rebatestag:homeenergypros.lbl.gov,2012-08-06:6069565:BlogPost:906342012-08-06T20:19:24.000ZDennis Cheslikhttp://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/profile/DennisCheslik
<p><strong>There are excellent energy rebate programs going on all across the U.S. to make your home more energy efficient. No matter what state you live in, the majority of local electric utility distribution providers are offering financial incentives to homeowners to upgrade the energy efficiency of their home. What is available in your area is totally dependent upon which specific local distribution supplier that you have. Not everyone lives in an area where incentive programs are…</strong></p>
<p><strong>There are excellent energy rebate programs going on all across the U.S. to make your home more energy efficient. No matter what state you live in, the majority of local electric utility distribution providers are offering financial incentives to homeowners to upgrade the energy efficiency of their home. What is available in your area is totally dependent upon which specific local distribution supplier that you have. Not everyone lives in an area where incentive programs are available. It's up to each individual homeowner to find out what is available in their own location.</strong></p>
<p><strong>All programs vary, from state-to-state, city-to-city, and local geographical locations. There is a wide spectrum of energy rebates running from a free replacement of your home thermostat to $15,000 for installing a solar energy system in your home. Most rebates cover insulation, radiant barrier, and HVAC upgrades. Some programs offer rebates for installing solar screens, solar water heaters, and energy efficient windows. Most programs offer a solar energy discount ranging from $2 to $3 per kilowatt installed in your home. Each program has specific coverages and qualification requirements.</strong></p>
<p><strong>The local electric distribution service providers are offering free money to upgrade your home to lessen the load off of local electrical transmission grids which capacities are frequently overloaded. The majority of transmission lines in the USA are outdated and very expensive to upgrade or replace. Many of our transmission lines were built 20 to 30 years ago, in some cases even more. In simple terms, the grid is struggling to keep up with population growth, new homes, and new businesses. </strong></p>
<p><strong>To find out what incentives are available in your area, you must contact your personal local electric distribution provider. Your provider is not always who you buy power from. In deregulated areas, you must contact the company you call when the power goes out. That is your distribution provider. Which company handles outages in your area should be listed on your latest electric bill. Start by visiting their website. Most energy efficiency programs are listed on company websites. In most cases, you can contact your provider by either email or phone.</strong></p>
<p><strong>As an example, in the Dallas Forth Worth area in North Texas: If you live in Dallas, you would need to call Oncor. Oncor handles the electric distribution in the majority of the DFW metroplex. Up the road 20 miles north, in Lewisville, you would call TNMP (Texas New Mexico Power). If you lived 10 miles further north, in Denton, you would need to contact Denton Municipal Electric. Oncor, TNMP, and Denton Municipal Electric all have energy efficiency programs. All 3 programs vary in product categories, dollar amounts, and percentages of coverage.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Two cream of the crop programs going in the State of Texas are in Austin and Denton. Both Austin Energy at the State Capitol and Denton Municipal Electric in Denton have excellent energy efficiency programs. Austin Energy offers rebates on programmable thermostats, HVAC upgrades, heat pumps, window AC units, and several types of water heaters. Denton Municipal Electric offers rebates for insulation, solar screens, energy efficient window upgrades, HVAC upgrades, programmable thermostats, and solar energy systems.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Here is a breakdown of rebates offered by Denton Municipal Electric:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Programmable Thermostats: $50 per unit/ up to 50%</strong></li>
<li><strong>Insulation: $400 per structure/ up to 50%</strong></li>
<li><strong>Radiant Barrier: $300 per structure</strong></li>
<li><strong>Solar Screens: $200 per structure/ up to 30%</strong></li>
<li><strong>HVAC Upgrades: $700 per unit limit (16 SEER or higher)</strong></li>
<li><strong>Windows: $500 per structure/ up to 30%</strong></li>
<li><strong>Solar Water Heaters: $300 per structure/ up to 50%</strong></li>
<li><strong>Solar Energy System: $15,000 maximum/ $3 per watt</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>When you compare the two programs, they are very similar, yet, there are differences. Both programs cover solar energy systems, HVAC upgrades, and solar water heaters. However, the Austin Energy program does not cover radiant barrier, windows, or solar screens. On the other hand, the Austin Energy program offers rebates for new window air conditioning units and free programmable thermostats at no cost to customers (certain conditions apply).</strong></p>
<p><strong>The bottom line is that each program is unique in each locality. Two unique examples are: in Marshall, Minnesota, Marshall Municipal Utilities offers customers rebates for load management, lighting, and holiday lighting. In Idaho Falls, Idaho, Idaho Falls Power offers free energy audits, rebates for manufactured homes, and zero interest loans for energy efficient appliances.</strong></p>